By RANDY LANEY
States Sports Writer

Drag racing superstar “Don Garlits heads up the lineup for Saturday’s ninth annual Dixie Finals at Blaney Drag Strip in Elgin.

The 44-year-old Florida native, who has scored over 200 victories and earned more than $3 million in his 25-year career will face Clayton Harris, Allan Starr and Bob Edwards in the featured Fuel Dragsters division of the $14,000 program.

Tommy Ivo, Larry Fullerton, R. C. Sherman and Ron Jackson will battle in the Funny Car class of the event which is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Assocation.

The eight fastest qualifiers will advance to the finals in the Pro Stock category. In addition, open competition will be held for Super Stock Modified and Stock eliminators and E. T. brackets I and II. Motorcycle E. T. Bracket racing is also scheduled.

Gates open Saturday at 3 o’clock, with competition beginning at 7 o’clock. Admission nis $6, and children under 12 will be admitted free if accompanied by a parent.

A field of some 150 cars is anticipated.

THE SOUTHERN Sportsman 300, featuring the top five money-winners from 10 South-eastern race tracks, begins 1:30 this afternoon at Atlanta International Raceway.

Competitors in the late model sportsman division will battle for shares of a $64,250 purse in the 300-mile chase over a 1,522-mile oval.

Neil Bonnett, winner of last year’s inaugural Southern Sportsman 300, represents Birmingham (Ala.) International Raceway along with Donnie Allison, Red Farmer, Jerry Lawley and Richard Orton.

Other top entrants for the 197-lap scramble include Jody Ridley and Billy McGinnis of Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga.; Billy Thomas, Sam McQuagg and Buck Simmons of East Alabama Motor Speedway; Junior Niedecken of Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.; Jerry Hughes of Harris (N.C.) Speedway; Tommy Houston and Harry Gant of Hickory (N.C) Speedway; Dean Bentley of Huntsville (Ala.) Speedway; L. D. Ottinger and Jack Ingram of Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway; Ray Hendrick and Sam Ard of S. Boston (Va.) Speedway; and Marlin Huffmaster of Thunderbowl Speedway in Valdosta, Ga.

BUDDY Baker, competing for the first time in the International Race of Champions, made an impressive debut last Sunday at Michigan International Speedway by winning the opening leg of this year’s four-race series.

Baker took the lead five laps from the finished of the 100-miler and came home seven seconds ahead of Johnny Rutherford, A. J. Foyt, defending champion of the event which began four years ago, salvaged third place despite a last-lap crash with Richard Petty and Gordon Johncock.

Jody Scheckter placed fourth, followed by Al Unser, Petty, Johncock, Al Holbert, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Bobby Unser and James Hunt.

The unique series, which matches 12 top drivers in identically prepared Chevrolet Camaros, continues Oct. 16-17 with a pair of road-course races at Riverside, Calif.

TWO MAJOR international motorcycle racing events will be held in the United States next year. The traditional Daytona 200 will be followed a week later by a similar event March 19-20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Daytona classic annually attracts top European factory teams, and CMS officials are hopeful that most of them will remain in this county for the $50,000 weekend of competition on Charlotte’s 2.25 – mile course.

H. A. Wheeler, CMS general manager, said he is currently negotiating with former world champions Giacomo Agostini of Italy, Phil Read of England and Johnny Cecotto of Venezuela.